And thomas joseph



W. S. REED 8v T. J. WALSH.

MEGHANIGAL TOY 0R GAME.

Patented June 23, 1885.

INVE N TDR.

M f. m5 WMZ/WM5 J k .5 f y w E? (No Model.)

WITNE EEES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM S. REED, OF LEOMIN STER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND THOMAS JOSEPH I VALSH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE V. S. REED TOY COMPANY, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL TOY OR GAME.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,501, dated June 23, '1.885

Application filed February 12, i885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, XVILLIAM S. REED, of Leominster, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, and THOMAS JOSEPH WALSH, of London, England, have invented aMechanical Toy or Game, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making to part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of mechanical toy embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line .r x of Figs. l and 2; Fig. 4, an elevation of the front of another style of mechanical toy embodying our invention; Fig. 5, a rear elevat-ion ot' the same; Fig. 6, a transverse scction on the line y f1/of Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7, de-

2o tail, to be referred to.

Our present invention has special reference to that class of mechanical toys or games provided with a target, and in which a ball or other missile or object is projected against it;

and this invention consists in aseries of blocks, tablets, or iigures (either colored, illustrated, or not) arranged within a case holder or receptacle of any desired form, and provided with one or more openings through which the 3o blocks, duc., are exposed to view and struck and displaced by a projectile propelled by hand or otherwise, the blocks, Sac., being successively brought into line with an opening in the case, Src., by a spring, by gravity, or by weight of superincuinbent blocks, the aforesaid invention being readily applied to a ininiature house, castle, tower, gun-boat, steamboat, bridge, car, or other vehicle, object, or thing.

ln the said drawings, A represents an upright frame, the front of which is finished to resemble a minature tower. c represents an arched gateway or opening at it-s bottom. bc

d efg a series of circular openings or windows thereover.

On the inside of the tower are secured two parallel cleats, 7L, extending vertically from top to bottom thereof, the space between the cleats being for the reception of a series of 5o blocks or tablets, B, having illustrations delineated thereon, if desred. The inner edges of the cleats at the points i vi, Fig. 7, near the bottom of the tower, slightly overlap the side edges ofthe blocks or tablets and form guides or ways in which they are capable of sliding, a rectangular opening, k, being formed in the top of the tower,throngh which the blocks may be entered, the portion of each cleat below the points t' i being cnt away, so as not to overlap the edges of the lowest block, the width ol' 60 which corresponds to the width of the way at this point.

Through the arched gateway a, and the several openings7 b c cl cfg, above it, are seen the blocks or tablets, with any design which may be delineated thereon.

C represents a horizontal floor or platform extending out from the base of the tower and capable ot' being readily detached therefrom for convenience in folding or stowing for transportation.

At the outer end of the platform is located aspring-plunger, D, of the following construe tion:

L" is a block secured to the end of said platform and having a circular longitudinal hole,

Z, bored centrally through it, for the reception of one end of the plunger D, which slides therein, the portion of the plunger outside of the block being surrounded by astiff spiral spring, 8o m, one end of the spring being secured to the inner end of the block and the other end bearing .against an enlargement or head, n, of the plunger. The opposite end of the plunger has an annular groove or channel formed therein, into which ts a spring-catch, o', located at the front of the block k, when the plunger is drawn back against the resistance of the spring, as seen in Fig. 2. The release of the power thus accumulated causes the 9o plunger to be thrown forcibly against the ball p, which is projected against the lower target-block, the result being the displacement of the target from its position behind the gateway-opening c and the descent of the neXt block above to occupy its place, the weight of the blocks insuring their successive appearance in line with the opening a to be struck and displaced by the ball in the manner previously described.

A series of targets, of any desired shape, design, or color, may be pressed upward by a follower actuated by a spring until they are in turn brought into line with an upper opening, g, in the tower and be displaced by a ball or other missile thrown by a spring-plunger or other device or by hand, in which a suitable stop would be required to limit the upward movement of the targets as they arrive at the firing position. Where a vertical Way having a number of openings and targets of various colors are employedone red, one white, one blue, another green, &c.-a pleasing effect will be realized by the exhibition of these various colors at one time and by a single glance, and the disappearance of one colored target after another from its firing position is also unique and interesting.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 our invention is shown in its application to ahouse, E, havinga horizontal guideway, s, for the blocks to slide in, a follower, t, having an elastic cord or band secured thereto, being employed for automatically advancing the blocks in line with the doorway or opening u under the roof as fast as the one in position has been displaced by the ball or other object or thing, a suitable stop, w, being employed to limit the advance movement of the spring.

A receptacle for holding blocks, tablets, images, figures, or other objects or things to slide therein and be displaced therefrom in the manner set forth may be so constructed as to represent a boat, bridge, car, vehicle, or edifice of any design, and, instead of being exposed through an opening therein, the targets in their firing position may be brought to view at the side, top, or bottom of the receptacle, in which case the other openings referred to may be retained or dispensed with, the whole constituting a novel and instructive toy for the young.

I claiml. As an improvement in mechanical toys or games, a holder case or receptacle of any desired design having a suitable guideway and one or more openings, in combination with a series of target-blocks, tablets, figures, orimages successively exposed to view by springactuating mechanism or by gravity after each preceding one is displaced by a ball or other missile or object, substantially as shown and described.

2. A holder case or receptacle having a vertical guideway and one or more openings, a series of target-blocks, tablets, Src., either col ored, illustrated, or not, and a spring for discharging or projecting a ball or other object thereat, whereby one target is displaced and the neXt one brought into line in its exposed or ring position, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, a'holder having a guideway, a series of targets, B, a follower actuated by a spring, and a stop for limiting the advance movement of and arresting the targets when in their firing position, as described.

fitness my hand this 20th day of January, 1885.

VILLIAM S. REED.

In presence of N. W. STEARNs, H. NV. STEARNs.

IVitness my hand this 18th day of Deceniber, 1884.

THOMAS JOSEPH VALSH. In presence of- A. BALL, l 3l Lawrence Lane, city of London, G. B.

A. LIDDLE, 31 Lawrence Lane, city of London. 

